Breaking news

Queensland anti-bikie laws: Government research suggests growing support for bikie crackdown

By Matt WordsworthUpdated
Mon 4 Aug 2014, 10:27 AM AEST

The Queensland Government could be emboldened to launch a new wave of anti-bikie laws, with internal research suggesting a rise in the number of people supporting additional measures.

The trend is contained in an internal research document obtained by the ABC.

In response to a series of highly public acts of bikie violence, the Newman Government last year brought in the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment (VLAD) law, as well as the anti-association law, which criminalises the gathering of three of more bikies in public.

Surveys of 1,200 people in December and June show an increasing number would support a further crackdown on criminal outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Bills passed by Qld Parliament

Asked whether they would support additional measures targeting gangs, 65 per cent of people in the June survey either agreed or strongly agreed.

That was up from 57 per cent in the December survey.

Strong or very strong support for the laws has also risen, from 48 per cent to 57 per cent.

The survey also found more people felt Queensland was a safer place since the bikie crackdown began.

The most popular measures are declaring gangs and their clubhouses illegal, as well as licensing of certain businesses such as tattoo parlours.

But there was no reduction in some key areas.

Seven in 10 people surveyed thought law-abiding motorcyclists were still likely to be unfairly pulled over by police.

More than half of the respondents also thought innocent people or businesses could be affected by the laws meant for bikies.

There was no lift in the support for special bikie prisons or pink jumpsuits.

Premier Campbell Newman backed down on the stipulation for jumpsuits and for bikie segregation in prison within days of the Liberal National Party's poor showing in the Stafford by-election on July 19.